New Car
Let the citizens of the Netherlands beware: their streets are no longer safe.
That’s because yours truly took the train today to Schiedam Centrum, walked to the showroom of Pelicar, slapped his wallet on the counter and said, “I need a car.”
Amazingly enough, they had some to sell. Two exactly. There was one other automatic in the entire showrrom, but it was a huge Lincoln towncar from like 1980, so I passed. It wouldn’t have fit in my garage anyway.
Instead, I signed the papers on a 1995 Subaru Justy. Yes, that paragon of automotive machinery, the Justy. Just what is a Justy? I don’t really know, but it’s automatic and sells for under 2,200 Euros.
Comparing the car-buying paperwork with the US, I would actually say that there was much less to do in the Netherlands. One form, some details from my license and some details about the car, a signature, and presto: Ann and I are now the proud owners of a Justy.
It doesn’t have power anything, not even steering. It looks like a strong wind would blow it over. It’s about six feet long, and three wide. The battery was dead when I took it for a test drive. But it has four wheels and goes forward when you step on the gas, and that’s enough for me.
My first car was a hand me down Honda Prelude that was actually a fantastic drive. The first car I ever bought was a five year old BMW 315 which I was able to pay for since I lived at home and had no other bills. Next came our trustworthy, if completely boring beige Toyota Corolla (which we sold to my parents when we moved to the Netherlands. And now a Justy.
Is it just me, or do my cars seem to be getting shittier and shittier.
It’s alright, it just has to last about 23 months. After that it can fall to pieces or disintigrate into dust, but until then that Justy needs to go forward when I press on the pedal on the right, and stop when I press on the pedal on the left.
Citizens of the Netherlands (and surrounding area), you have been warned.
Did you find your passport afterwards? Did you...
Brian you need to learn how to drive a standard that way you could have bought a better car.
What are you trying to say about my Justy beotch? Huh?
Are you saying it “Justy” needs to go forward? Boy I’m going to have fun with this one.
Don’t mind them Brian, they just don’t realize the advantage of having such a small car has in such a small country. My Suzuki ‘Alto’ (with its 13 cm wide wheels) and your ‘Justy’ provide cutting edge ‘compactness’. Ofcourse, the saying ‘you get what you pay for’ certainly applies in such cases.
Hey Brian make sure to pay your radio tax if your Justy even has a radio.
[...] I took my Justy to the mechanic this morning because a week ago it started acting weird. Jerking, making bad grinding and screeching noises, revving the engine when I took my foot off the brake, stuff like that. [...]